Chelsea 2 - Newcastle 0: No flight of fancy now for Fernando Torres

AS the champagne flowed on the flight home from the Champions League final last May, Roberto di Matteo sat quietly next to a disgruntled Fernando Torres and assured him he had an important part to play in Chelsea’s future.

As a piece of psychology by the then interim manager, it was masterful. Torres had been unhappy about being left out of the starting line up in Munich, voicing his opinions even in the delirious aftermath of victory.

Now suddenly, the £50million man is playing like a £50million man.

The power, skill and deadly precision of Torres in his Liverpool days is returning almost visibly by the minute as Chelsea charge away, this comfortable victory making it three wins out of three – two goals from the Spaniard crucial to that start.

Di Matteo’s canny man-management aside, there is one other major factor helping Torres to emerge from his near 18 months of hibernation. The signing of the electric Eden Hazard.

The confidence is back because I am playing more

Fernando Torres

The Belgian, who has become an instant hit with his skills, vision and pace, is bringing the best out of Torres.

A potentially lethal partnership is developing.

These were Torres’ words after the final: “I’m not happy. It was maybe the biggest disappointment of my life. They have treated me in a way I was not expecting. I have to evaluate whether it is worth it.”

This was a much happier Fernando on Saturday night: “The confidence is back because I am playing more. When you play you have more confidence and, with the new players we have signed, we are more attacking.”

A huge amount of the credit has to go to Di Matteo. That quiet chat with Torres might be his most important bit of managerial skill so far as his team sit three points clear at the top.

Di Matteo said: “I spoke to Fernando on the plane coming back and told him he was part of the future of this club.

“Understandably, there is frustration when you don’t start such a big game. But I was always very happy with Fernando.

“Towards the end of last season he was fantastic. Maybe not scoring, but being a provider. And even when that doesn’t happen he works very hard for the team. I like to communicate with the players. Players thrive on confidence. At the moment, he’s providing and scoring.

“I don’t think there was ever a sense that Fernando was in Didier Drogba’s shadow. When they were playing, they were scoring and we were winning. He’s come back full of confidence.”

Newcastle were supposed to be the toughest task Chelsea had yet faced. But they looked drained by their Europa League exertions on Thursday.

Chelsea buzzed from the start and broke the deadlock after 22 minutes. Torres swerved into the area and Vurnon Anita’s dangling leg brought him down. With Frank Lampard rested, Hazard dispatched the penalty.

On the stroke of half-time, Hazard’s backheel allowed Torres to curl home a shot with the outside of his right foot for possibly his best goal for the club.

He was wrongly booked by referee Phil Dowd for diving but nothing could spoil the afternoon for Torres. Certainly not Newcastle. They came into the game in the second half, but Demba Ba failed with their best chance near the end, shooting straight at Petr Cech.

Cech said: “If you come to the team like Fernando and everything is not going well, it is difficult. But now it’s a different story. He is enjoying the game.”

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew said: “Our fans are under no illusions that we are excelling and will continue hopefully to excel and get a top-eight finish. Top five would be a great achievement.”